By: David Dillow, CTO, Greypike Inc.
Last updated: October 31, 2026
Almost every week, a CEO or a contracts manager asks me the same question. Not “what is CMMC.” They already know. They ask, “What is this actually going to cost us?”
They want the number. Most vendors make that hard. You fill out a form, sit through a demo, and get a quote three weeks later. In my 20+ year government career I was always taught, never assume anything, and that includes never assuming a price you haven’t seen in writing.
So this post lays out how CMMC compliance software and services are priced, what each model costs you in practice, and the questions that keep you from overpaying.
BLUF
CMMC help for a small defense contractor is sold five ways: per user, per framework or control set, a flat monthly platform fee, consultant projects or hours, and fully managed programs. For a company under 25 people, a flat monthly platform with an expert checking your work is usually the lowest total cost. If you handle CUI and need a secure enclave, expect a per-user price for only the people who touch CUI, plus a one-time setup fee. The official C3PAO assessment is always a separate bill, no matter who you buy from.
Key takeaways
- Ask for the total yearly cost, not the monthly teaser. Setup fees, per-user fees and add-ons are where budgets break.
- Software alone does not make you compliant. Someone has to do the work, and someone should check it.
- Per-user pricing punishes growth. Flat pricing is easier to budget.
- The C3PAO assessment, Microsoft licenses and fixes to your network are usually not in the software price.
- The Phase 2 pause did not remove your SPRS score, DFARS 252.204-7012 or NIST SP 800-171 obligations. Budget for them now.
How are CMMC compliance platforms priced?
Here are the five models you will run into, and what each one means for your wallet.
| Pricing model | How you are charged | What to watch for | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per user | A monthly fee for every person in the tool | The bill grows every time you hire | Very small teams that won’t grow soon |
| Per framework or control set | A fee for each set of rules you track, like CMMC Level 2 or SOC 2 | Some vendors charge full price for every framework, even where the controls overlap | Companies with one main framework |
| Flat platform fee | One monthly or yearly price, no matter how many people use it | Check what’s included. Some flat plans leave you on your own. | Most small and mid-sized contractors |
| Consultant project or hourly | A fixed project price or an hourly rate | Scope creep, and you may not own the documents at the end | One-time gap assessments and policy writing |
| Fully managed | A monthly fee for a team that runs your compliance program | Make sure you still approve policies and accept risk. You can’t hand that off. | Companies with no compliance staff |
Most real quotes mix two or three of these. A platform fee, plus per-user enclave seats, plus a setup fee is very common. That’s fine, as long as you see every line before you sign.
What does CMMC compliance cost for a 15-person company?
Many vendors don’t publish their prices, so I can’t put their numbers in front of you. I can show you ours, because they’re public on our pricing page. Use them as a yardstick when you compare quotes.
| What you need | Monthly | Paid yearly | One-time setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compliance App: you or your IT provider do the work, we check it | $399 | $3,990 | $0 |
| Managed: we run the program, you make the decisions | $999 | $9,990 | $0 |
| Managed + Fixes: we also help close the gaps | $1,999 | $19,990 | $0 |
| Secure CUI enclave, 5 users, added to the App | $399 + $1,475 | About $22,500 a year if paid monthly | $4,500 |
The App price shown is our founding price for the first 25 customers, locked for 24 months. The standard price is $499 a month. Microsoft licenses inside an enclave are passed through at cost, or you can bring your own.
Every plan includes one framework and a named compliance manager who reviews your work. Extra frameworks are $149 a month each. No plan charges per user, except the enclave, and there you only pay for people who actually touch CUI.
What costs are not in the software price?
This is the part that surprises people. Plan for these four, no matter which vendor you pick.
- The C3PAO assessment. If your contract requires a Level 2 certification, an independent C3PAO does the assessment and you pay them directly. In the CMMC rule, DoD estimated the Level 2 certification assessment for a small business at about $104,670 over three years. That covers the assessment, not the work to get ready for it.
- Fixes to your environment. Multifactor authentication, logging, encryption and endpoint protection may mean new tools or new licenses.
- Microsoft licensing. If you need GCC High or an enclave, someone pays for those licenses.
- Your people’s time. Even a managed program needs a decision maker who answers questions and signs off.
Is cheap CMMC software a trap?
Sometimes. Here’s what goes wrong. A company buys a low-cost checklist tool, uploads template policies, scores itself, and posts a strong number in SPRS. Nobody checks the work. Then a prime asks for evidence, or a real assessor looks, and the score falls apart.
That is not a hypothetical risk. In March 2025, DOJ announced that MORSECORP would pay $4.6 million to settle False Claims Act allegations. The government said the company posted a SPRS score of 104, then got an outside gap analysis that scored it at -142, and did not update its score for almost a year.
That last part is the whole problem. The tool didn’t fail them. Nobody checked the work, and nobody fixed the number.
So when you compare prices, ask one simple question: who reviews what we do? If the answer is “nobody, it’s self-service,” the cheap tool may be the most expensive thing you buy.
What should you ask before you sign?
- What is the total cost for 12 months, including setup, users and add-ons?
- Is there a setup fee, and what exactly does it pay for?
- Do you charge per user? What happens to the price when we hire?
- How many frameworks are included, and what does each extra one cost?
- Does a real person review our evidence and tasks, or is it self-service?
- Who writes the System Security Plan, and who owns it if we leave?
- Is the C3PAO assessment included? (It shouldn’t be. If a vendor says they will prepare you and assess you, walk away.)
- How long is the contract, and can we pay monthly?
Does the CMMC Phase 2 pause change what I should buy?
It changes the timing, not the rules you already have. On July 13, 2026, the Department of War suspended Phase 2, which was set to begin November 10, 2026. A task force is reviewing the program, and its report has not been published as of this writing.
Here’s what is still required today if you hold DoD contracts with FCI or CUI:
- DFARS 252.204-7012 and the 110 requirements in NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2
- A current NIST SP 800-171 score posted in SPRS
- Level 1 and Level 2 self-assessments where your contract calls for them
So the smart buy right now is the one that keeps your SPRS score honest and your evidence organized, so you’re ready when Phase 2 comes back. You can read more in our post on the CMMC Phase 2 suspension.
Our pricing page has a “Build your price” tool. Pick a plan, add frameworks or enclave users, and see your monthly and setup cost. No form, no sales call.
Build your price Get the free SPRS calculatorIf you want a second set of eyes on a quote you already have, send it over. I’ll tell you what’s missing, even if you don’t buy from us. It’s worth getting ahead of this before your next proposal is due.
Related reading: CMMC Level 2 cost for small businesses and CMMC managed compliance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does CMMC compliance software cost per month?
It depends on the pricing model. Greypike’s Compliance App is $399 a month at the founding price ($499 standard), with no setup fee and no per-user fees. Managed plans are $999 and $1,999 a month. Other vendors charge per user, per framework or by the hour, so always ask for the total 12-month cost.
Is the C3PAO assessment included in CMMC software pricing?
No. A Level 2 certification assessment is done by an independent C3PAO, and you pay them directly. DoD estimated that assessment at about $104,670 over three years for a small business. A vendor that prepares you should not also assess you.
What is the cheapest way for a small business to get CMMC compliant?
For most companies under 25 people, a flat-priced platform where an expert reviews your work costs less overall than hourly consulting. Keeping CUI in a small enclave instead of moving the whole company can also cut cost, because fewer systems are in scope.
Do I need a secure enclave for CMMC?
Only if you handle Controlled Unclassified Information and want a separate, locked-down place to work with it. Many companies only handle Federal Contract Information and need CMMC Level 1, which does not require an enclave.
Should I wait for CMMC Phase 2 before buying anything?
Waiting on certification may be reasonable, but waiting on compliance is not. DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP 800-171 and your SPRS score are required today. Recent False Claims Act settlements show the risk of a score that doesn’t match reality.
How much does CMMC Level 1 compliance cost?
Greypike offers a Level 1 plan for $199 a month for companies up to 50 people that only handle Federal Contract Information and need their yearly self-assessment.
